#THEY ARE PERFECTION

[opshizt]

FACE CARD FACE BANK FACE ECONOMY

[livelovecaliforniadreams]

#Name A Better Childhood Friends To Lovers Glow Up I'll Wait

[sadiegirl2021]

It still takes my breath away every time I read the bonus chapter and see just how special the connection between Gwyn and Azriel is. SJM had absolutely no need to include Gwyn in the bonus chapter. It could have ended with Rhys’s dismissal or with Azriel alone, reflecting on his conflicted feelings. But instead, we’re given this beautiful moment where two lost souls find each other in the dark.

I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!

He aimed for the training pit, giving in to the need to work off the temptation, the rage, and frustration and writhing need.

He found it already occupied. His shadows had not warned him. 

It was too late to bank without appearing like he was running, Azriel landed in the ring a few feet from where Gwyn practiced in the chill night, her sword glimmering like ice in the moonlight.

She stopped mid-slice, whirling to face him. "I’m sorry. I knew you all were going to the river house, so I didn’t think anyone would mind I came up here, and-”

"It's fine. I came to retrieve something I forgot." The lie was smooth and cool, as he knew his face was. His shadows peered over his wings at her.  

The young priestess smiled-and Azriel thought it might have been directed at his curious shadows. But she just hooked her coppery-brown hair behind an arched ear. "I was trying to cut the ribbon." She pointed with her sword at the white ribbon, which seemed to glow silver. 

“Aren't you cold?" His breath clouded in front of him.  

Gwyn shrugged. "Once you get moving, you stop noticing it."  

He nodded, silence falling. For a heartbeat, their gazes met. He blocked out the bloody memory that fashed, so at odds with the Gwyn he saw before him now.

Her head ducked, as if remembering it too. That he'd been the one who'd found her that day at Sangravah. "Happy Solstice," she said, as much a dismissal as it was a holiday blessing.  

He snorted. "Are you kicking me out?"  

Gwyn's teal eyes flashed with alarm. "No! I mean, I don't mind sharing the ring. I just... I know you like to be alone." Her mouth quirked to the side, crinkling the freckles on her nose. "Is that why you came up here?"  

Sort of. "I forgot something," he reminded her.  

"At two in the morning?"  

Pure amusement glittered in her stare. Better than the pain and grief he'd spied a moment before. So he offered her a crooked smile. "I can't sleep without my favorite dagger."

"A comfort to every growing child." 

Azriel's lips twitched. He refrained from mentioning that he did indeed sleep with a dagger. Many daggers. Including one under his pillow. 

"How was the party?" Her breath curled in front of her mouth, and one of his shadows darted out to dance with it before twirling back to him. Like it heard some silent music.

"Fine,"he said, and realized a heartbeat later that it wasn’t a socially acceptable answer. "It was nice."  

Not much better. So he asked, "Did you and the priestesses have a celebration?"  

"Yes, though the service was the main highlight." 

"I see."  

She angled her head, hair shining like molten metal. "Do you sing?” 

He blinked. It wasn't every day that people took him by surprise, but…" Why do you ask?" 

"They call you shadowsinger. Is it because you sing?" 

“I am a shadowsinger-it's not a title that someone just made.”

She shrugged again, irreverently. Az narrowed his eyes, studying her. "Do you, though?" she pressed. "Sing?" 

Azriel couldn't help his soft chuckle. "Yes." 

She opened her mouth to ask more, but he didn't feel like explaining. Or demonstrating, since that was surely what she'd ask next. So Az jerked his chin to the sword dangling from her hand. "Try cutting the ribbon again." 

"What-with you watching?"  

He nodded. 

She considered, and he wondered if she'd say no, but Gwyn blew out a breath, steadied her feet and balance, and sliced. A beautiful, precise blow, but it didn't sever the ribbon. 

"Again," he ordered, rubbing his hands against the cold, grateful for its bracing bite and the distraction of this impromptu lesson. 

Gwyn sliced again, but the ribbon remained unyielding.

“You're turning the blade a fraction as it comes parallel to the ground," Azriel explained, drawing his Illyrian blade from down his back. "Watch." He slowly demonstrated, rotating his wrist where she did. "You see how you open up right here?” He corrected his position. “Keep your wrist like that. The blade is an extension of your arm."  

Gwyn tried the movement as slowly as he had, and he watched her self-correct, fighting against the urge to open up her wrist and rotate the blade. She did it three times before she stopped falling into the bad habit. "I blame Cassian for this. He's too busy making eyes at Nesta to notice such mistakes these days." 

Azriel laughed. "I’ll give you that."  

Gwyn smiled broadly. "Thank you." 

Azriel dipped his head in a sketch of a bow, something restless settling in him. Even his shadows had calmed. As if content to lounge on his shoulders and watch.  

But sleep. He needed to at least attempt to get some. 

"Happy Solstice," Azriel said before aiming for the archway into the House. "Don't stay out too much longer. You'll freeze." 

Gwyn nodded her farewell, again facing the ribbon. A warrior sizing up an opponent, all traces of that charming irreverence gone. 

Azriel entered the warmth of the stairwell, and as he descended, he could have sworn a faint, beautiful singing followed him. Could have sworn his shadows sang in answer.

[shimmer-like-agirl]

When your perfect Valentine's Day is spending it with your partner in an empty, hole-in-the-wall ramen shop

[loveisactivated]

When did you realise that you loved me?

[codename-adler]

HELLO STICHI HELLO STICHI HELLO STICHI HELLO STICHI

[escapismqueen]

Not to be dramatic, but if Jelly aren’t endgame, I’m just going to go into hibernation for the rest of my life, because what is the point if they are not together ?

[shannonallaround]

This is incredibly random but I just finished reading Long Live the Pumpkin Queen which is the canonized sequel to The Nightmare Before Christmas and is told from Sally’s point of view and I am in LOVE

[damnonew]

watching ep9 now and OMG sand and nicks friendship is everything

I love them so much and I'm so glad they have each other

[lohstandfound]

thinking about my graphic novel series again. i have way too many thoughts about it

[stardella]

Maria and her little alien brother sketchbook dump from the last few weeks

Minor spoilers for Sonic 3 ig

[livelovecaliforniadreams]

[daftpatience]

slow down for your disabled friends. thats like a bare minimum kindness that we shouldnt have to ask for. i love that youre so quirky and walking fast is a cool personality trait to you and all that but i bet you can count your physically disabled friends on less than one hand

[casualfoxwitch]